Leighton Meester: Her Style Timeline

Leighton Meester is about as chill as Blair Waldorf is uptight—just check out what she says about these old photographs. For more of our exclusive interview with Meester, pick up the January issue of Allure, on newsstands December 21.

"Funny! I have a little plump face. That outfit is scary—I bought it at the tween shop that I always wanted to go to but we could never afford. My mom was like, 'Oh, well—you're going to a premiere. You can [shop] there.' I didn't put any thought into it whatsoever. Nowadays, it's like you plan it for two weeks, and you do three and a half hours of hair and makeup."

"I look like an awfully mischievous 16-year-old girl. Headbands are now gone. I actually at one point went to Catholic school in New York City, so I know what this outfit is all about. I was forced to wear a bra, which I was not happy about at age 11."

2009: With Penn Badgley and Lady Gaga on the Set of Gossip Girl in New York City

"[Sings] 'Ga-ga, ah-ah-ah!' She's awesome and pretty normal. She's very specific about her performances—every one is a statement, and it was just fascinating. She was like, 'Can you sign a picture for my little sister?"

"I love Chuck and Blair. I can really relate to it—not because it's this dramatic, tumultuous relationship, but because the way they love each other is very real and not for the sake of being dramatic. It's actual love, and it's very sexy. There's nobody for each other but them."

"Swinging around in leather pants. The guy who's holding me is really sweet. I got really scared every time. I was like, 'Are you going to be able to carry me?' He was like, 'Yeah, I'll be able to carry you. Feel my thighs. They're like tree trunks.' He could've held me with one hand. My mom was there. I do a lot of grinding and writhing, which is what the songs called for. She was kind of speechless afterwards."

2010: With Tina Fey, Steve Carell, and Common at the Premiere of Date Night in New York City

"The only scenes I did in Date Night were with Steve Carell and Tina Fey. He's a comic genius, and so is she. They improvised and it was very fun. She's the woman you want to grow up to be—so smart and so powerful."